Tuesday, August 8, 2017

The Texas Ethics Commission has levied a $1,000 fine against former Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority (CTRMA)
Director James Mills to resolve an ethics complaint that TPJ filed in March 2016. The Commission's investigation confirmed TPJ's allegations
that Mills failed to fully disclose his business interests in his 2014 and 2015 Personal Financial Statements as required by law. TPJ filed similar complaints against CTRMA directors Charles Heimsath and Ray Wilkerson. Heimsath was fined by the Commission on June 9, 2017. The Wilkerson complaint is pending.
TPJ's original complaints against the toll-road directors can be found here.

Monday, July 17, 2017

Lobby Watch: A Special Session Built for Special Interests

Six of Gov. Abbott's 20 stated reasons for convening this special
session would override local governments to benefit construction and
development interests. Those same two industries have given Abbott
$10.7 million, or 15 cents of every gubernatorial dollar that he
raised.

Thursday, June 22, 2017

Lobby Watch: Gold Deposits Contractor Paid Tribute to the King.

Heads of the Austin company that won a state contract to build
a gold depository did not contribute to state candidates before Gov.
Abbott signed the bill creating the Texas Bullion Depository.
Between that signing and Comptroller Glenn Hegar's recent awarding of
the depository contract, three Lone Star Tangible Assets leaders made
coordinated contributions to deliver a total of $21,500 to Hegar and
Abbott.

Wednesday, June 14, 2017

Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority (CTRMA)
Director Charles Heimsath agreed to
pay a $300 fine to settle an ethics complaint that TPJ filed in March 2016. An
Ethics Commission investigation confirmed TPJ's allegations that
Heimsath failed to disclose his interests two Austin-based companies. TPJ's March complaint, along with similar complaints against two other CTRMA directors can be found here.Download the TEC Final Order in the Heimsath complaint.

Friday, May 19, 2017

Lobby Watch: $1.7 M. Ideological Dollars Drove Patrick-Straus Rift?

The biggest funding difference between Lt. Gov. Patrick and Speaker
Straus stems from Ideological/Single Issue contributors. Before
ideological brawls broke out between the two legislative chambers,
Ideological/Single Issue donors gave Patrick almost $2 million--or 674
percent more than they gave to Straus.

Thursday, May 11, 2017

Lobby Watch: Predatory Lenders Lavish $4.2 Million on Texas Pols

The predatory lending industry has spent a stunning $4.2 million on
Texas politicians over the past two elections, including more than $1
million from Cash Store chief Trevor Ahlberg of Irving (25 percent of
the total). These heavy political investments helped a defensive
industry seize the offensive.

Monday, May 8, 2017

Running on Hydrocarbons: Oil & Gas Contributions to Texas Legislators

Current Texas lawmakers took $11.3 million from the oil and gas industry over the past two election cycles, according to a new report, "Running on Hydrocarbons," released today by Texans for Public Justice, Public Citizen and the Sierra Club's Lone Star Chapter. The Energy & Natural Resources sector supplies lawmakers with more money than any other sector besides Lawyers & Lobbyists (even as Energy & Natural Resources is the leading employer of Texas lobbyists).Read the media release.
Read the full report: Running on Hydrocarbons.

Thursday, May 4, 2017

Lobby Watch: The Newest 'Revolving Door' Lobbyists.

With five of Speaker Joe Straus' former lieutenants stepping
straight into the lobby this session, a Straus-appointed committee
eviscerated a reform to slam the brakes on the revolving door.

Members
seem to regard the revolving door as a personal entitlement, as the
House trains future lobbyists at public expense. Which 2015 committee
chair now boasts the fattest retainers? Who lugged the biggest leftover
war chest into the lobby?

Friday, April 21, 2017

Lobby Watch: Locking Up Immigrant Families

Orwellian Texas lawmakers are working on legislation to license
immigrant detention centers as child-care facilities. Many testified
against the idea, but the prison industry is paying ten Texas lobbyists
up to $480,000 and has doled out $225,000 in political contributions in
recent years.